Reflector for illuminated signs and the like



'A. SCHALLER I REFLECTOR FOR ILLUMINAT ED SIGNS AND THE LI KE Aug. 31926. 1,594,981.

Filed August 21, 1922 A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW SCHALLER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

REFLECTOR FOR ILLUMINATED SIGNS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,157.

This invention relates to illuminated signs and, particularly, to signsof the type in which the letters, symbols or other designs thereof aredefined by reflector elements appropriately arranged and adapted toreflect the light rays received from a suitable source or sources. Insigns of this type, proper effects are obtainable only when thereflector elements are set and maintained at proper angles with respectto the source of light. In some instances, it is necessary that theseveral elements comprising a sign be set at different angles, dependentupon the relative position of any particular element with respect to thelight I source.

One ob ect of the present invention is the provision of improvedmounting means for the reflector elements which will permit a universaladjustment of the individual elements to any angular position desiredand retain them in the position so set.

Another object is to improve the construction of reflector elements forthis and similar purposes.

Other objects and advantages will here inafter appear.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a signembodying the letter O and illustratingone type of sign in which the present invention may be advantageouslyused.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the sign of F igure' 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, of a reflector elementconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a sign of somewhat diflerent typeembodying features of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a reflector element of somewhatdifferent form.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a reflector element of another form.

weather resisting qualities.

vided with a peripheral flange 11 prO ecting somewhat above or beyondthe plane thereof in a manner known in signs of this type. The source oflight is, in this instance, an electric bulb 12, mounted in the usualsocket 13, secured to appropriate cross-pieces 14 within the plane ofthe portion 10. The forward end of the bulb 12 is covered with an opaquecoating 15 to prevent the escape of light directly from the bulb to theeye of the observer in front of the sign; The light from the bulb isthus directed laterally to the several reflector elements 16 mountedupon the portion 10. Signs of this general type are 'old and well knownin the art, so that a further Or more detailed description thereof isdeemed unnecessary.

The reflectors 16 and their individual supports 17 are believed,however, to be of novel cons uction. The reflector illustrated in Figure3 comprises a disc-like body portion 18 of aluminum or other goodweather resisting material formed to provide a slightly concavereflecting surface.

This surface may or may not be specially treated to improve its lightreflecting and In the form shown, the edge 18 of the body portion iscurved .or flanged vided with integral radially extending tabs 19 whosecentrally disposed inner ends 20 are fashioned and cooperate to form anappropriate socket for an end 2l of a supporting shank or pin 17. Theend 21 of the pin 17 is secured within the socket thus formed by anyappropriate means, such as cement or solder 23. The other end 24 of thepin 17 is adapted to,be secured in or to the portion 10 of the sign. Thereflector shown in Figure 3 is designed for use with wooden signs, sothat in this instance the end 24: of the pin is screw threaded so thatit may be readily screwed into the frame portion 10 until the flange orshoulder 25 is forced into firm contact with the surface thereof.

The pin or shank 17 is formed of copper or other readily bendable metalwhich will permit the the reflector to any position required andrearwardly and PTO-7" desired angular adjustment of retain it in anyposition so set. This adjustable feature is of marked importance, inthat it simplifies the assembly and maintenance of signs of thischaracter and leads to better permanent results.

The sign illustrated in Figure 4 is similar in many respects to that ofFigures 1 and 2, except that the source of light is mounted within areflector 26 mounted well in advance of the main frame 10 of the sign.The reflector elements 16 are of the same construction as that shown inFigure 3.

The reflector element shown in Figure 5 comprises a solid body 27 ofporcelain or glass of substantially conical form whose base 28constitutes the reflecting surface. It will be noted that this face hasa slightly concave portion in the form of a concentric ring, leaving arelatively high spot in the center or about the periphery thereof. Thisreflector is mounted upon a shank 17 of bendable metal, substantiallyidentical with that shown in Figure 3, and having one end 21 cemented ina suitable socket 22 formed in the apex of the conical body por tion.The reflecting surface is preferably silvered and then covered by asuit-able transparent lacquer to protect it from the weather.

The reflector element of Figure 6 comprises a hollow substantiallyconical body 28 of glass. The base of the cone is preferably ofrelatively thin material, the 1nner face 29 thereof being silvered toprovide a good light reflecting surface. An opening in the apex of thecone is closed by a screw plug 30 constituting one end of the supportingshank 31 of the reflector. This shank is made of metal, the intermediateportion 32 being bendable for purposes of adjustment, as in thereflectors hereinabove described. In this instance, the other end of theshank 31 is provided with a screw plug '33 similar to the plug 30, bywhich it may besecured to sign boards of sheet metal construction. Avery simple method of mounting this type of plug is illustrated inFigures 6 and 7. A circular opening 34 is formed through the. sheet ofmetal, one

wall of the opening is slitted as indicated at 35, and the resultantcorners 36 are pressed into relatively offset relation so that the wallof the opening thus provides in effect a screw thread adapted to fitbetween the threads on the plug 33. The plug 33 is screwed into positionin this opening and retained in place by an appropriate lock nut 37.-

Various changes may be made in any of the. embodiments of the inventionhereinabove described, without departing from,

or sacrificing, any of the advantages of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an illuminated sign having a base frame, the combination of areflector constituting one of a series of symbol defining elements, anda support for said reflector having a portion adapted to be fixed tosaid base frame and an intermediate portion of bendable materialpermitting an angular adjustment' of said reflector in any directiondesired, said reflector" having a reflecting surface extending acrossthe axis of said support.

2. In'an illuminated sign having a base frame, the combination of areflector constituting one of a series of symbol defining elements, anda shank for supporting said reflector, said shank having means at oneend for attachment to said frame, and an intermediate portion ofbendable material permitting an angular adjustment of said reflector inany direction desired, said reflector having a reflecting surfaceextending across the axis of said shank.

3. A reflector constituting one of a series of light reflecting symboldefining elements and comprising a body portion having a substantiallydisklike reflecting surface, and

a bendable shank adjacent the center thereof forming a support therefor,said surface extending transversely of said shank.

4:. A reflector constituting one of a series of light reflecting symboldefining elements r and comprising a substantially conical body portionhaving a substantially disklike reflecting surface, and an angularlyadjustable shank portion connected with the apex of said conical bodyportion for'supporting said body, portion.

5. A'reflector constituting one of a series of light reflecting symboldefining elements and comprising a'hollow conical body portion havingthe inner surface of the base wall of said conical body portion coatedwith a light reflecting material, and a bendable 'shank portion forsupporting said body portion connected with the apex of said conicalbody portion. r

6. An illuminated sign comprising a source of light and a. series ofsymbol defining elements for receiving and reflecting light from saidsource, each element comprising a body portion having a light reflectingsurface, and a relatively short bendable shank connected to said bodyportion within the periphery of said surface.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day ofAugust, 1922.

ANDREW SCHALLER.

